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A review by bethgiven
The Sea in Winter by Christine Day
5.0
Maisie, a seventh-grade Native American girl living in the Pacific Northwest, is struggling. Months earlier, an accident sidelined her from the thing she loved most: ballet. What's more, she can't seem to shake the heavy, isolating feeling that has settled in recent weeks. She's struggling in school, snapping at her parents, ghosting her friends. When her family vacations to the Olympic Peninsula for the long weekend, Maisie's despair only deepens. Thankfully, supportive family and friends are there to help her work through her challenges.
This short middle grade novel checks all the boxes for me. I loved the beautiful setting; I visited the Seattle area for only a few days in 2019, but I daydream about it all the time! I enjoyed the likable characters; Maisie's family is just the best. The storyline was so relatable; children and adults alike have all had to deal with loss, whether it's the loss of plans and dreams, like Maisie, or the loss of a loved one, like her mother suffered through. The book introduced me the Makah tribe and their traditional whale hunt; I really enjoyed learning about that (there are even more details in the author's note at the end). And there's even a scene at a library, which is presented as a place of hope and healing, and that warms my library-loving heart.
Even though it's short, this book tackles a lot of issues (besides the ones I mentioned earlier, there's activism, social media and technology use/abuse, the connection between our physical and mental health, the war in Afghanistan, creative writing, our connection with nature, and the positive role of therapy). But rather than scattering the story, I feel like the complexity adds to its richness. This book was an enjoyable listen during this dreary time of year. I just loved it, and I'm excited to recommend it to my daughter and nieces!
This short middle grade novel checks all the boxes for me. I loved the beautiful setting; I visited the Seattle area for only a few days in 2019, but I daydream about it all the time! I enjoyed the likable characters; Maisie's family is just the best. The storyline was so relatable; children and adults alike have all had to deal with loss, whether it's the loss of plans and dreams, like Maisie, or the loss of a loved one, like her mother suffered through. The book introduced me the Makah tribe and their traditional whale hunt; I really enjoyed learning about that (there are even more details in the author's note at the end). And there's even a scene at a library, which is presented as a place of hope and healing, and that warms my library-loving heart.
Even though it's short, this book tackles a lot of issues (besides the ones I mentioned earlier, there's activism, social media and technology use/abuse, the connection between our physical and mental health, the war in Afghanistan, creative writing, our connection with nature, and the positive role of therapy). But rather than scattering the story, I feel like the complexity adds to its richness. This book was an enjoyable listen during this dreary time of year. I just loved it, and I'm excited to recommend it to my daughter and nieces!